A Mystery

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Eph. 5:31-32

I always wondered why Paul threw in the "I speak concerning Christ and the church" relating to this verse about a man leaving his father and mother.  But think about it, Jesus Christ left his father in heaven, God the Father, to come be with his church, us, to pursue his church.  The mother part is interesting but it could be seen that the Holy Spirit is/was Jesus' mother.  The Spirit is usually thought of as feminine.  So in a sense they are like a nuclear family.  God the Father is not a single dad, but he has the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps that is the great mystery that Paul was talking about.  He doesn't explicitly say this but it is inferred. 

Secondly the two shall become one flesh.  How did Jesus become one flesh with the church after he came down to earth?  Well he became fully man.  He fully identified with us.  Jesus' death broke down the wall between us and God of sin.  After Jesus left the Holy Spirit was sent to enter and empower believers.  This is the most powerful way that God and the church became one flesh.  God now dwells inside of us.  He is a part of us.  Paul says, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" and  "Your lives are now hiding with Christ in God."  We have become one.  The church and God have become one flesh.  Just as God is three but one, we as the church are many but one together with God.